Friction shock absorbing mechanism



Feb. 20, 1-945.

R. J. OLANDER FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 12. 1944Patented Feb. 20, 1945 ERICEIIGN-S-HQGK'ABSORBING v Roland J.Olander,"Chicago, IlL, assign'orto W; H; Miner, Inc.,"Chieag0, Ill,acorporation 0T Belaw ,AnplicationFebnualtyn, 19i4,;sena1ivlo. 522;0.s9Y '5 Claims. (0!.213-24) This invention-relateswto improvements intriction shock'abserbing'mechanisms.

-.0ne object rof :the invention is to provide an efiici-ent shockabsorbing mechanism, especially adapted for railway draft riggingshaving 'combined spring and rriotional cushioning action, wherein thefrictional resistance becomes effective \to augment the springresistance to take care of the heavier shocks after -a predeterminedcompression rof'm'he ispuing resistance.

Another :object "of the invention is to provide amechanism as set forthin-the preceding paragraph, wherein :high spring capacity is obtainedbysprings compressed in tandem.

Other objects -of the invention will more 'clea'rly :appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part'of "this specification, Figure '1 is ahorizontal longitudinal sectional View of -'a portion of a railway draft.rig-. .ging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figures 2and 3 are transverse vertical sectional views, correspondingrespectively to the lines 2-2 and '3-3 of Figure lyF'igure 3 being on anenlarged scale. plan view ofthe front friction casing .of my improvedmechanism, as shown iIrFigu-re 1.

In said drawing, ,llll'0' indicate -channelshaped center sills of arailway car underf-r-a-me to the inner faces .of which are secured frontand rear stoplugs I |-.l .l and i l l..l.. The inner end portion of thedrawbar is l-indicated by 42.. to which is operatively secured a hoodedyoke 13 of we'll-known .torm. The yoke and parts therewithin aresupporteddn operative position by a detachable saddle plat 14 and the:shock absorbing mechanism isheld properly centered between the sills byguide brackets 45-15 .securedto'the'inner sides of the sills.

My improved friction shock absorbing -mech-, anism co'mnrises broadlyvfront. and rear fol-low:- ers .A and B; {front and rear friction casins C and D; front and rear outer springs E and .F;. .a friction clutchwithin eachcasing, comprising a. wedge G and three friction shoes and aspring 11 within each casing, y eldingly opposinginward movement of the.-clutch.

The Jfront and rear follower blocksA and LB,

are or identical. desi and correspond to the usual followers employed ina :draft rigging. Each follower block is'inl the 'form of a heavy,rectangular plate. The followers A and B are disposed within the yokevis at the iront' and rear ends thereof and cooperate-in the usual-Figure 4 .is a mp.

manner the front andrear fS'GOPrhIgS :l -l--H and l "l:l,.

The front and vrear friction casings C and :D are a-identical, leachcasing being in the fform of a vt-ub'ull'atr,--cylindrical shell-closedat the outer end by a transverse wall 1&6. As shown in Figure 1, thefriction casings C and D are reversely -arranged end for'end, having theclosed or outer ends thereof :bearing respectively on the front and rearfollow rs A and :B. [At the inner end, each -:casi-ng is provided withtwo diametrically opposed, laterally outwardly projecting, platelikeflanges [41-41 having diverging side edges 218-18 'radia-l to thelongitudinal central axis oflthe-sh'ell, :and-a :cu-rved outer edge H3concentric to said axis. Idle opposed flanges ill-11 0f each casingprovide intermediate follower members integral with said casing. Betweenthe flanges i l -l1, the opposed side wall portionslof the casing arecut out, or recessed, providing longitudinally extending, diametr'icallyopposite slots 20-211, and diametrically opposite arms ZIP-21 extendinglengthwise of the casing. The slotsof each casing are 'of a width toaccommodate the arms z t-:21 of the other casing for lengthwise slidingmovement therein. As will be evident, the flanges l b-l?! of each casingare at the outer ends of the arrnsthereof and 'form intermediatefollower members. The casings C and D are reversely arranged end .forend and have the arms Zi -21 thereof intermes'hed; the casing C leeingturned :about'lits axis through an angle of 90 degrees with respect tothe casing D.

The interior of each casing is of substantially circular, transversecross section and presents a lorigit-udin'ally,extendinginteriorfriction surface 22 of cylindrical "for-m. Each casing has slidinglytelescoped therewith the friction clutch comprising the three shoesHH--H and a central wedge block G.

Each shoe has a cylindrical friction surface 23 on the outer sideslidably engaged with the interior friction surface 22 of the casing. Onthe inner side. each shoe has a wedge face 2'4 of l-.sha:p-ed;transverse, crosssec't'ion adapted to cooperate with the wedge The wedge"Gris disposed centrally between "the three shoes H-zH-J-I and has threewedge faces 25--25'25 of V-"shaped, transverse section, respectivelyengaged with the Wedge faces 24- Zd-44 of the three shoes. The wedge Ghas a substantially 'iia t, transverse, outer, end face 26 ,tormin'ganabutment "face. Inwardly projecting lugs QT-21 are provided on the innersides :of the arms i l-410i each casing 'for limiting outward movementof the wedge, the lugs 21-21 shouldering in seats 28-28 at diametricallyopposed sides of the wedge. At diametrically opposite sides, removed 90degrees from the seats 21-21, the wedge is out out or provided withlongitudinal slots 29-29, which clear the lugs 21-21 in assembling thewedge with the casing. These slots 29-29 further provide clearance forthe lugs when the outer end of the wedge of one casing is moved into theopen end of the other casing,

Each casing contains one of the springs J. The spring J preferablycomprises a light inner coil and a heavier outer coil, bearing atopposite ends on the inner ends of the shoes and the closed end of thecasing.

As shown most clearly in Figure 1, which illustrates the normal releaseposition of the mechanism, the wedge blocks G-G of the front and rearcasings are held spaced apart lengthwise of the mechanism by means ofthe stop lugs 21-21 of the casing C and D, and the slots 29-29 of theWedge blocks G of each casing are' aligned with the lugs 21-21 of theother casing so that movement of the wedge inwardly of said last namedcasing will not be interfered with by said lugs.

The outer springs E and F are disposed at the front. and rear ends ofthe mechanism, respectively, the spring E surrounding the front casingC, with its front end bearing on the front follower A and its rear endbearing on the follower members l1-l1 of the rear casing B, and thespring F surrounding the rear casing C, with its rear end bearing on therear follower B and its front end bearing onthe follower members "-11 ofthe front casing C.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism is as follows:Upon a draft or pulling action being applied to the drawbar, the rearmain follower B is pulled forwardly by the yoke l3, carrying the rearfriction casing D therewith, compressing th rear spring F'between thefollower B and the follower members I1-l1 of the front casing C, whichis held stationary during this action by abutment with the frontfollower A, which is held against outward movement by the front stoplugs ll-l I, and compressing the front spring E between the followermembers I1-l1 of the rear casing D and the stationary front mainfollower A. This action of the mechanism continues until the wedge blockG of the rear casing D comes into engagement with the'wedge block G ofthe front casing, whereupon the friction clutches of the two casingswill be forced inwardly of said casings with resultant high capacityfrictional resistance to absorb the heavier shocks to which themechanism may be subjected in service.

During buffing action, the operation is the same as hereinbeforedescribed with the exception that the front casing C is moved rearwardlywith the frontfollower and the rear casing D is held stationary.

Compression of the mechanism is limited by engagement of the ends of thearms 2l-2l of the casings with the stops formed by the inner end wallsof the slots 20-20 of the casings, thereby preventing undue compressionof the springs of the mechanism.

In release, the expansive action of the springs E, F, and J restores allof the parts of the mechanism to the normal position shown in Figure 1.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rearmain followers movable relatively toward and away from each otherlengthwise of the mechanism; of front and rear pressure transmittingfriction casings bearing respectively on said front and rear mainfollowers; intermediate follower means on said casings, respectively;front and rear spring members surrounding said front and rear casings,respectively, said front spring member bearing at its front and rearends on the front main follower and the intermediate follower of saidrear casing, and said rear spring member bearing at its front and rearends on said intermediate follower of the front casing and said rearmain follower; a friction clutch within each casing; and spring meanswithin each casing yieldingly resisting inward movement of the clutch,said clutch means of said casings being actuated after a predeterminedcompression of the mechanism.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rearmain followers movable relatively toward and away from each otherlengthwise of the mechanism; of front and rear pressure transmittingfriction casings bearing respectively on said front and rear mainfollowers; intermediate follower means on said casings, respectively;front and rear spring members surrounding said front and rear casings,respectively, said front spring member bearing at its front and rearends on the front main follower and the intermediate follower of saidrear casing, and said rear spring member hearing at its front and rearends on said intermediate follower of the front casing and said rearmain follower; a friction clutch within each casing at the inner endthereof, each clutch including an outer wedge block and friction shoesinterposed. between said wedge block and the interior walls of thecasing, said wedge blocks being engageable with each other duringcompression of themechanism to actuate the friction clutches of saidcasings; means for holding said wedge blocks spaced apart during apredetermined initial compression of the mechanism; and spring meanswithin said casings opposing inward movement of the shoes.

3. In a, shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rearmain followers movable relatively toward and away from each otherlengthwise of the mechanism; of front and rear pressure transmittingfriction casings open at their inner ends, said front casing bearing atits outer end On said front main follower and said rear casing bearingat its outer end on said rear main follower; friction shoes telescopedwithin the open inner end of each casing; an outer wedge block inwedgin'g engagement with the shoes of each casing; stop means on saidcasings normally holding said wedge blocks spaced apart a, suflicientdistance to permit a predetermined compression of the mechanism beforesaid blocks come into engagement with each other; springs within saidcasings yieldingly opposing inward movement of said shoes; frontintermediate follower members at the rear end of the front casing andrigid therewith; rear intermediate follower members at the front end ofthe rear casing. and rigid therewith; and front and rear outer springssurrounding said casings, said front spring bearing at opposite ends onsaid front main folmain follower; friction shoes telescoped within theopen inner end of each casing; an outer; 'wedge block in wedgingengagement with the shoes of each casing; stop means on said casingsnormally holding said wedge blocks spaced apart a sufiicient'distance topermit a predetermined compression of the mechanism before said blockscome into engagement with each other; springs within said casingsyieldingly opposing inward movement of said shoes; a pair of rearwardlyextending arms on said front casing; a pair of forwardly extending armson said rear casing engaged between the arms of the front casing; frontintermediate follower members at the rear ends of the arms of the frontcasing and rigid therewith; rear intermediate follower members at thefront ends of the arms of the rear casing and rigid therewith; and frontand rear outer springs surrounding said casings, said front springbearing at opposite ends on said front main follower and the rearintermediate follower members, and said rear spring bearing at oppositeends on said front intermediate follower members and said rear mainfollower.

5. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the commediate follower memberscomprising a platelike bination with front and rear main followersmovable relatively toward and away from each other lengthwise of themechanism; of front and rear pressure transmitting friction casings.open at their inner ends, said front casing hearing at its outer end onsaid front main follower and said rear casing bearing at its outer endon said rear main follower; friction shoes telescoped within the openinner end of each casing; an outer wedge block in wedging engagementwith the shoes of each casing; stop means on said casings normallyholding said wedge blocks spaced apart a sulficient distance to permit apredetermined compression of the mechanism before said blocks come intoengagement with each other; springs within said casings yieldinglyopposing inward 7 movement of said shoes; a pair of rearwardlyextending, diametrically opposite arms on said front casing;

casing; front intermediate follower members at the rear ends of the armsof the front casing and rigid therewith; rear inter mediate followermembers at thefront ends 'of the arms of the rear casing and rigidtherewith, each of said intersection laterally outwardly projecting fromthe corresponding arm; and front and rear outer springs surrounding saidcasings, said front spring bearing at opposite ends on said'front mainfollower and the rear intermediate follower members, and said rearspring hearing at opposite ends on said front intermediate followermembers and said rear main follower.

ROLAND J. OLANDER.

a pair of forwardly extending, diametrically opposite arms on said rearcasing slidably engaged between the arms of said frontv

